Micha Wald returns to his roots

by Aurore Engelen

26/08/2008

Exactly one year ago, Micha Wald’s debut feature Horse Thieves[+see also: film reviewtrailerfilm profile] was launched on Belgian screens. This unusual period adventure film represented a real change of direction in Wald’s brief but acclaimed filmography. The director now returns to his roots with his upcoming film, Simon Konianski, which has just started shooting in Brussels.

The film centres on Simon, the main character in the director’s short Alice et moi, a young father and bachelor who sets out in search of his origins. Simon Konianski also marks a return to the tried and tested road-movie format: whereas Simon "sensibly" went to the seaside in the aforementioned short, this time he embarks (along with the cast and crew) on an epic journey which leads him as far as Ukraine, as he tries to find his recently deceased father.

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Finally, the film explores the same themes developed in Alice et moi: Judaism, generational conflicts, revenge, and, most importantly, father/son relations.

Jonathan Zaccaï replaces Vincent Lecuyer in the role of Simon, but the rest of the winning team remains the same. As with Wald’s previous films, Simon Konianski is lensed by Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd and edited by Susana Rossberg. André Fonsny is production designer.

As usual, Versus Production are producing the title, along with Richard Lalonde and Forum Films (Canada). Also on board are Films Distribution, who will handle international sales.

Wald’s film has an estimated budget of €3m and has received backing from the Film and Audiovisual Centre of the French Community of Belgium, Wallimage, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, Tax Shelter and Eurimages. The Belgian leg of the shoot will finish in early September, before filming relocates to Poland and Ukraine, and wraps up on October 20.

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